Posted on 07/05/2006 10:37:27 PM PDT by RWR8189
TORONTO -- In a White House meeting today with Canada's first Conservative prime minister in 12 years, President Bush will find an ideological soul mate who has moved quickly to rebuild his country's long-neglected military and committed to keeping 2,300 troops in Afghanistan through 2009.
Long known for its blue-helmeted peacekeepers, Canada has been eager to alert Americans to a more militaristic image. A smartly designed Web site (www.canadianally.com) -- promoted with ads in the D.C. Metro system and elsewhere -- bristles with photos of Canadian troops in action abroad.
More significantly, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government last month announced a major increase in troop strength and plans to spend $13.5 billion on new ships, trucks, helicopters and aircraft. The announcement was coupled with an extension of the Canadian troop commitment in Afghanistan.
The United States has urged Ottawa to spend more money to rebuild a military that has been embarrassed by having to hitch rides or borrow equipment from coalition troops.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
New Canadian government (hint:they aren`t Hillorats folks)
Well thank God !
It is about time ! !
Since 1991, when the USSR fell, Canada had gutted its' millitary .
In 1990, Canada was the 5th largest contributer in peacekeeping forces, now they are 1/47th !
(source NATIONAL REVIEW)
Canada had one submarine in its' Navy, and that one caught fire earliar this year . .
Canada ping fyi.
Earlier this year my wife and I were headed from Bellingham, WA to Victoria, BC on a tour cruise.
Approaching Victoria it was announced that up ahead was a Canadian aircraft carrier, with five GU-11's ready for takeoff.
As I followed the crowd towards the front, it dawned on me that Canada doesn't have any aircraft carriers.
The American passengers all chuckled as we passed a floating log with 5 seaGU-11's on it. The Canadian passengers weren't so thrilled.
Rebuild is the operative term but it will cost.
They cashed in on the "peace dividend".
Problem is, you always have to pay that back later - one way or another.
Aside from fielding a military commensurate with its economic standing, Canada must wake up to the fact that it is unique on Earth in having a vast territory of 3.8 million square miles which features tremendous natural resources, while consisting of a population of only 32 million. Given the political and population-related pressures in the coming decades, that territory won't be remain under Canadian control without a fight. Whatever form that fight might take, and whenever it occurs, the Canadian military had better prepare for it.
I have often thought that a new country, rebuilding (or just building) it's military might benefit greatly from forming a Seabees (Construction Battalion), nucleus.
Building their own infrastructure to their specifications, training on tracked and wheeled vehicles, providing fast, reliable training in teamwork that actually pays for itself in some measure could be just the ticket.
Canada might reap some serious benefits in SAR, firespotting, emergency road repair, disaster relief... the list goes on!
Is it too obvious to call it 'bang for your buck'?
I am happy to hear this.
Like so many countries, Canada discovered the air wings were just too expensive to maintain once they moved into the jet age.
Just checked at wikipedia. In WWII they had two that were built in the US and then transferred through Lend-Lease, and one that was British built. After the war they had HMCS Warrior, but they gave that back to the Brits. Next was Magnificent, which was being built as WWII ended. She was unsuitable for jet ops so when they decided to switch to the Banshee fighter they bought Bonaventure from the Brits.
Canada ping!
Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.
Come on folks. How do you think Canada and Europe have been paying for their social programs. Simple...they use the money that they save from not having a real military and rely on the good will of the USA to come and save them if there is a problem.
Is it possible that many countries, including Canada, did not join the US in Iraq because the little fact that they did not have a standing army would suddenly be revealed to their citizens?
Yes. Our presence in Afghanistan stretched our military resources to the limit so there was nothing available to deploy to Iraq. Our Liberal government of the day chose to be obnoxious about it as cover for their negligence.
Hey fanfan, what kind of volume is there on your Canadian ping list? I am very interested in Canada, but I am already on a lot of ping lists...
Some days there are 3 or 4, some days 10 or more.
I've had a few people drop off because of the volume.
;-)
Let me know if you want to give it a try.
Hey, Canada is ready for it.
The same why Danny Devito was ready for a good fight in the movie twins.
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